[bruhsh] 
| 1. | an implement consisting of bristles, hair, or the like, set in or attached to a handle, used for painting, cleaning, polishing, grooming, etc. |
| 2. | one of a pair of devices consisting of long, thin handles with wire bristles attached, used in jazz or dance bands for keeping a soft, rhythmic beat on the trap drums or the cymbals. |
| 3. | the bushy tail of an animal, esp. of a fox. |
| 4. | Electricity.
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| 5. | a feathery or hairy tuft or tassel, as on the tip of a kernel of grain or on a man's hat. |
| 6. | an act or instance of brushing; application of a brush. |
| 7. | a light, stroking touch. |
| 8. | a brief encounter: He has already had one brush with the law. |
| 9. | a close approach, esp. to something undesirable or harmful: a brush with disaster. |
| 10. | to sweep, paint, clean, polish, etc., with a brush. |
| 11. | to touch lightly in passing; pass lightly over: His lips brushed her ear. |
| 12. | to remove by brushing or by lightly passing over: His hand brushed a speck of lint from his coat. |
| 13. | to move or skim with a slight contact. |
| 14. | brush aside, to disregard; ignore: Our complaints were simply brushed aside. |
| 15. | brush off, to rebuff; send away: She had never been brushed off so rudely before. |
| 16. | brush up on, to revive, review, or resume (studies, a skill, etc.): She's thinking of brushing up on her tennis. Also, brush up. |
| 17. | get the brush, to be rejected or rebuffed: She greeted Jim effusively, but I got the brush. |
| 18. | give the brush, to ignore, rebuff, etc.: If you're still angry with him, give him the brush. |
| brush 1 (brŭsh) n.
v. tr.
brush back Baseball To force (a batter) to move away from the plate by throwing an inside pitch. brush up
[Middle English brusshe, from Old French brosse, brushwood, brush; see brush2.] brush'er n., brush'y adj. Synonyms: These verbs mean to make light contact with something in passing: Her arm brushed mine. I flicked the paper with my finger. The arrow glanced off the tree. The knife blade grazed the countertop. A taxi shaved the curb. The oar skims the pond's surface. |
brush
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brush up
Clean, refurbish, as in We plan to get the house brushed up in time for the party. [c. 1600]
Also, brush up on. Review, refresh one's memory, as in Nell brushed up on her Spanish before going to Honduras, or I'm brushing up my knowledge of town history before I speak at the club. [Late 1700s]